Choice Specimens of American Literature, And Literary Reader

Choice Specimens of American
Literature, And Literary Reader
- Being Selections from the Chief
American Writers

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Title: Choice Specimens of American Literature, And Literary Reader
Being Selections from the Chief American Writers
Author: Benj. N. Martin
Release Date: February 17, 2004 [EBook #11122]
Language: English
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CHOICE SPECIMENS
OF
AMERICAN LITERATURE,
AND
LITERARY READER,

BEING SELECTIONS FROM THE CHIEF AMERICAN WRITERS,
BY
PROF. BENJ. N. MARTIN, D.D., L.H.D., PROFESSOR OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK. 1874

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.
The former edition of this work was prepared simply as a supplement
to Shaw's "Choice Specimens of English Literature." Though it
extended to a larger size than had been anticipated, and was therefore
issued in a separate volume, it still proved so straitened in point of
space as to be in some important respects defective and inadequate. The
decision of the publishers to reprint it in an enlarged form furnishes to
the editor a welcome opportunity to correct its deficiencies, and to
make several important emendations.
When the work of collecting suitable extracts from the great body of
our literature was fairly entered upon, it soon became apparent that
little aid could be had from the earlier manuals. Besides being in great
measure obsolete, they were from the beginning disproportionate, and
geographically too local in subject and spirit; both of which may be
deemed grave defects.
The last twenty years have made great changes in American authorship.
Many new names must now be added to the older lists, and many
formerly familiar ones must be dropped from them. Hence these
extracts have for the most part been derived, with assiduous care,
directly from the collected works of our standard authors. This part of
my labor has been greatly facilitated by the courtesy of the gentlemen
connected with the Society, the Mercantile, and the Astor, Library,
whose constant kindness I gratefully acknowledge.
The principal alterations which will be found in this edition are the
following.

1. The extracts, formerly, of necessity, brief and fragmentary, have
given place to more extended and coherent passages.
2. A much larger space has been allotted to the more eminent authors.
Such writers as Franklin, Jefferson, Calhoun, Webster, Wirt, Irving,
Cooper, Hawthorne, Channing, Beecher, Prescott, Motley, Shea,
Bryant, Poe, Emerson, and Lowell, have been much more adequately
exhibited.
3. Many later writers have been added, so that the work more fully
represents the rapid development of literary effort among us.
4. A few writers, formerly included, have been dropped from the list,
not always as less deserving a place, but sometimes as having less
adaptation to the purposes of the book.
Much care has been bestowed upon the dates of the several authors, and
in bringing up details of information to the latest period. The same
pains have been taken to furnish a just representation of the writers, too
often overlooked in our manuals, of the Southern and Western portions
of our country. Though often wanting in mere grace of style, they are
apt to be original and vigorous; and often possessing valuable material,
they are well worthy of perusal. In all these respects this collection has
been carefully elaborated; and the editor hopes that it will be found to
give a somewhat proportionate and complete view for its compass, of
our best literature.
In adapting the selections to Mr. Tuckerman's interesting "Sketch of
American Literature," specimens have generally been taken from
several authors in each of his groups. Some names not found in his
"Sketch," have been introduced, chiefly for the fuller illustration of the
literature of the south and west. In this particular, Coggeshall's "Poets
and Poetry of the West" has afforded great assistance. Among the more
recent aids of the same kind, I must also mention Davidson's "Living
Writers of the South," and Raymond's "Southland Writers." Especial
acknowledgment is due to the "Cyclopedia" of the Messrs. Duyckinck;
Appleton's "Annual Cyclopedia" has furnished many important dates;
and I have occasionally been indebted to the works of Allibone,
Cheever, Griswold, Cleveland, Hart, and Underwood. Not only the
local literature however, but the several professions, and the great
religious denominations, are also represented by prominent writers.
It seemed unnecessary to treat the female writers as a distinct class;

they are, therefore, arranged under the departments